WOKING schools have clubbed together to provide students with an exciting new way to learn.

The Construction and Built Environment course, which involves 15 pupils, gives young people the opportunity to develop skills towards their chosen career.

Youngsters from the Bishop David Brown School (BDB), in Sheerwater, Winston Churchill, in St John’s, and Woking High School, Horsell, are taking the new qualification.

It is hoped this will lead them to careers in the construction industry in areas such as town planning, surveying, architecture, estate agency and interior design.

Students attend the Centre for Built Environment at BDB every Tuesday and Wednesday to learn about topics related to construction and must also take part in 10 days of work experience.

Course co-ordinator Dan Brown said: “People have the idea that if they are academic, they do A-levels and if they are not so bright, they take a vocational diploma. But the diploma students can see how what they are doing relates to their future lives.

“It’s going really well. We held an evening for parents and one said the diploma has changed their relationship with their child.

“The parent said their child used to moan about homework but now they were doing something they were interested in.

“And that is what the diploma is all about. The curriculum meets the needs of some people but this is about motivating kids by linking their studies to work outside, with projects based on what is going on in the area at the time.”

The qualification is one of 10 new diploma courses that has been rolled out by the government for 14 to 19-year-olds across schools in the UK and combines classwork with hands-on experience.

The diploma is the equivalent to eight-and-a-half GCSEs and includes English, maths and IT. To achieve the qualification, students must pass all the elements.

Mr Brown said: “The schools are working together for the first time in collaboration, to get the best for their students.

“There are 15 students from three schools and next year we are looking to have 30 students, with another 15 doing the hair and beauty studies diploma.”

Woking is one of the first towns in the UK to take part of the scheme, which will give all pupils the opportunity to sign up for 17 diploma courses by 2013.

A diploma in hair and beauty studies will start at BDB next year, with other courses in IT, environmental and land-based studies, creative and media and society, health and development commencing within the next few years.

After taking the initial qualification, students can opt to study at Guildford College for an advanced diploma — the equivalent to three-and-a-half A-levels.

Woking High’s Georgina Gilbert, 14, is studying on the construction and built environment course at BDB. She said: “I think it is a good opportunity for everyone interested in architecture and interior design.

David Fisher, 14, who is attending the course from Winston Churchill School, added: “It’s different and a good opportunity to get extra curricula learning. It’s good that we have to do something to do with construction.”

And Dean Hieke, 14, also from Winston Churchill, said: “I want to get into architecture or surveying, so it gives you the chance for a good opportunity in the future. It’s good because you get to go out and meet new people.”

Mr Brown added: “There is not a history of schools collaborating so it is about getting them working well together. It is the cutting edge of what schools are trying to do.”